A. Axeltrov. Ringed by eateries (Cafe Chaplin does a mean brunch and buffet), the main city square – created in 1698 – is the ideal starting point in the cozy city of just 61,519. There’s a farmer’s market on Wednesdays and Saturdays to buy fresh foods from local farmers and fishermen, and also a kiosk to buy foreign language newspapers for some pre-race reading.

B. Brostraede Is. With temperatures nudging over 20C in midsummer, you’ll want a race-cation ice cream. Brostraede Is, located near the train station, is a popular choice due to the quality of its cones.

C. Copenhagen. Your flight to Denmark will most likely land in the capital of Copenhagen and, as anyone who’s raced August’s IRONMAN Copenhagen knows, it’s one of Europe’s most enjoyable capital cities. It’s also incredibly bike-friendly for any relaxed pre-race leg-loosening bike sessions and just a 20-minute train journey from Elsinore.

D. Danish Museum of Science and Technology. Although, sadly, triathlon bikes have yet to be included in the exhibits, this museum on the western edge of Elsinore lets you voyage back in time to witness the evolution of machines and technology. The exhibitions include airplanes and vehicles, robots and trains, and there’s even the oldest still-drivable car in the world. tekniskmuseum.dk

E. Elsinore Yard. Also known as the Culture Yard, this community area hosts a shipyard museum, library, concert hall and changing exhibitions.

F. Ferries. Elsinore is the closest Danish city to Sweden and ferries run across the 4km Øresund strait to Helsingborg in Sweden every 20-minutes at peak times. They’ll be plenty of Swedes onboard on a mission to buy cheap(er) Danish alcohol. There’s no need to reserve; simply buy a ticket (around $5) from the window or vending machine and board the first ferry to depart.

G. Gammel Dansk. Okay, one for post-race of course, but Gammel Dansk is a popular bitter dram made with 28 different herbs and spices. The bottle has been specially designed to create a gurgling noise as the drink is poured. And, if you want to say cheers as a local does, it’s ‘Skål’!

H. Hamlet. You’re not legally allowed to publish an article about Elsinore without a mention of Hamlet, Shakespeare’s timeless tale of revenge. The city’s Kronborg Slot was made famous as Elsinore Castle in the literary classic, with Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, encountering the ghost of his murdered father along the ramparts of the castle.

I. Italiensk Salat.The Danes are famous for their open-top sandwiches (smørrebrød) and one of the most popular toppings is the Italiensk Salat (Italian salad), which is almost always paired with ham and has key ingredients of mayonnaise, potato and carrots.

J. Jutland. Depending on how long you have in Denmark, the varied and dramatic landscapes of the Jutland region are well worth the three-hour drive from Elsinore.

L. La Dolce Vita. For some pre-race carb-loading, the Italian family-run La Dolce Vita restaurant on Kongensgade in the heart of Elsinore is one of the places to go. A three-course meal costs around $55, with fresh ravioli and tagliatelle on the menu.

M. Mørbradbøffer. Pork is massively popular in Denmark and mørbradbøffer is a hearty and popular pork tenderloin recipe, which is often served hot with fried onions and plenty of cream… so probably best saved for post-race. Other porky favourites include flæskesteg (roast pork), leverpostej (pork liver pate) and Æbleflæsk (pork and apples). Danish bacon ain’t bad either.

N. Netto. Denmark is the cheapest nation is Scandinavia, but its prices can still cause frugal travellers a case of cold sweats. Thankfully, self-catering is an option, with Netto, Lidl and Aldi a trio of supermarkets to stock up on food, pre- and post-race supplies.

O. Øresund. The 4km-wide strait running east of Elsinore is one of the world’s busiest waterways and links the North and Baltic Seas.

P. Pastries. It’d be rude to head to Denmark and not saviour the ubiquitous – and rather sticky – Danish Pastry (actually brought into Denmark by Austrian chefs in the 1840s).

Q. Quick. The smooth roads of IRONMAN 70.3 Elsinore will provide plenty of fast 113km racing. Recent years have seen Germany’s Michael Raelert – the fastest man in IRONMAN 70.3 history – clocking a 3:42:52 overall split to break the Elsinore tape in 2017.

R. Rib House. For a guilt-free post-race feed, there are few better options than the Rib House on Stengade, with huge chunks of meat cooked on the open grill and a giant salad bar. Come early to get a spot on the outdoor patio. ribhouse.dk

S. Swim, bike, run. The IRONMAN 70.3 Elsinore course starts with a 1.9km one-loop swim right in front of the Kronborg Castle, before a 90km lap along the coastline and around North Zealand. The 21.1km run course takes athletes through old Elsinore city, finishing every loop in front of the majestic castle.

T. Tilbud. The name given to the specials menu in Denmark, with lunchtime set meals often providing the best value dish of the day.

U. UNESCO World Heritage site. The Kronberg castle was added to the Unesco list in 2000. Adult tickets cost £22, with under 18s going free to the Renaissance-era castle. kongeligeslotte.dk

W. World Championship slots. The IRONMAN 70.3 European Championships offer 50 qualifying slots for 2018’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in South Africa’s Port Elizabeth, the first time the African continent has hosted an IRONMAN World Championship race.

X. Expo. The IRONMAN Village is the meeting point of athletes and spectators, with registrations, massages, the welcome desk and finish line hosted in the exhibition area.

Y. Youth. If you’re bringing the kids, Elsinore has plenty to entertain them. There’s the KMD IRONKIDS event at 13:00 on the Saturday, the hands-on Øresund Aquarium, and the underground Maritime Museum, which allows you to experience a torpedo, see the world's largest model of a container ship and look at what’s reportedly the world’s oldest ship’s biscuit (from 1852). There’s also a chance to get a sailor’s tattoo, but we’re not sure the offer extends to M-Dot tats… mfs.dk/en

Z. Zs. If you’re looking for somewhere to sleep, Nirvana Europe are the Official European Tour Travel Partner. www.nirvanaeurope.com